LATE EARL JELLICOE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 304, 21 November 1935, Page 10

LATE EARL JELLICOE

A GERMAN TRIBUTE. “CHIVALROUS OPPONENT.” (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received November 21, 1.10 p.m. BFIRLIN, Nov. 2(5. Admiral Von Raeder said the late Earl Jellicoe was highly esteemed by the entire German nayy as a chivalrous opponent, especially in the Battle of Jutland. Knowing his desire to visit the young navy and the new leaders, Germany had intended inviting him to a commemoration service for the Jutland victims. SPLENDID TRIBUTES. “A GREAT COMMANDER.” Received November 21, 1.25 p.m. LONDON, Nov. 20. Earl Beatty, paying tribute from his sickbed to the late Flarl Jellicoe, said: “I did not’ eve.n know lie was ill and his death is a terrific shock. He epitomised the highest ideals of the > Navy, being a great commander and admiral. The country is deeply indebted for bis war work and his work for the returned soldiers.” Mr Lloyd George said : “Although we differed on the best method of combating the submarine menace, he was always prompted by the highest sense of duty, and our personal relations were of the highest.” The president of the Legion said that like the late Lord Haig, Earl Jellicoe died in the service of his comrades.

Sir lan Hamilton said he had been a close friend of Earl Jellicoe since Lord Fisher had said : “Hamilton and I have a little man with a rat trap mouth, in which he will catch the German fleet.”

TERM IN DOMINION. VALUABLE SERVICE RECALLED. (By Telegraph—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 21. The late Earl Jellicoe rendered great service to Ihe Dominion, not only as Governor-General, but in his capacity as adviser to the Government on naval affairs. About a year prior to taking office in the Dominion he visited New Zealand during the course of a tour oil behalf of the Admiralty to prepare a report on the naval defence of the Pacific. It was on his recommendation, which Mr W. F. Mussey (Prime Minister) heartily approved, that the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy was established, the Dominion undertaking tlie maintenance of two D-tiass cruisers of the modern type. Earl Jellicoe strongly stressed that they be manned by New Zealanders, any balance, of the complement being provided by the Mother Country, and the training to follow the British Navy practice so as to secure uniformity and efficiency in all details. It was also recommended that a New Zealand Division of the Royal Naval Reserve be formed. All these proposals have operated satisfactorily for many years. Earl Jellicoe, as Governor-General, was highly popular because he had such a great capacity for frjendly contact with officials and the general public alike. Illustrating his sense of humour on public occasions, the story is told of his amusing adventure at a Rotary luncheon in Wellington when, being interested in the speaker of the day, he informally came along, stipulating firmly no speech from the Gover-nor-General, but references to his presence prompted him to make acknowledgement. At the end of his brief speech he recalled his own prohibition and announced that as he had broken it he would fine himself a sovereign, but he could not find the money nor could his aide. Therefore a number of guests passed half-crowns under the table to Earl Jellicoe who, receiving a large handful of silver, counted it out and placed a pound’s worth before the chairman, remarking “I got into a hole over that fine but, as you see, it’s all right and I am five bob to the good.”